East Bay High School Sports

NCS wrestling: De La Salle, Logan Windsor highs all are in position to win title

By Steve Dulas

Correspondent

Posted:
02/28/2014 09:58:42 PM PST

Updated:
03/01/2014 09:23:54 PM PST

NEWARK -- De La Salle High can still win a record sixth straight North Coast Section wrestling championship, but it's going to be a three-team race to the wire.

Less than nine points separate tournament leader James Logan, Windsor and De Le Salle after the first day, and all three are positioned to make a run. James Logan has six wrestlers in the semifinals, while Windsor and De La Salle have five apiece.

"There are going to be some head-to-head matches that will probably determine this championship," said James Logan coach Eli Bagaoisan. "I think it's not going to be settled until the finals are over.

James Logan is a half-point ahead of Windsor, 141-140.5, while De La Salle is third with 132.5 points. Wrestling resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday at Newark Memorial with the fifth round of consolation. The semifinals will start at 10 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 6 p.m.

The first head-to-head matchup in the semifinals comes at 132 pounds, when Felix Bonavente of Logan faces De La Salle's Nathan Cervantes. The other head-to-head in the semis will be at 195, between Clayton Hartwell of James Logan and Windsor's Paris Henry.

The Spartans' only top seed, Donovin Guerrero, rolled into the 106-pound semifinal with three pins, as did second-seeded Cervantes at 132. Cervantes also racked up three falls.

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De La Salle's biggest surprise came at 160 pounds, where Marcello Orozco knocked off fourth-seeded Tauva Austin of American 2-0, then beat fifth-seeded Ricky Cavender of Fort Bragg 4-2 in the quarterfinals.

But while Orozco earned a berth in the semis, the Spartans suffered a setback when Jack Walsh, the No. 2 seed at 145 pounds, was upset 7-4 by Mission San Jose's Enrique Green in their quarterfinal match. At 126, the Spartans' David Conte reached the semis against Devin Lyle of Liberty, recording three pins. Gavin Hummel upset Antioch's Iosefa Papalagi, a returning placewinner, 11-6 and will face Foothill's Arthur Knatt at 170.

James Logan's three top seeds, Jacob Macalolooy (138), Jacob Donato (120) and Hartwell (195), also pinned their way into the semis. Joining them are Raymond Monela (106) and Zack Wally (220).

The Spartans have four wrestlers still alive in the consolation bracket when wrestling resumes Saturday. Windsor, which finished third last year, still has seven in consolation. Logan has just two.

None of the No. 1 seeds lost a match, but the closest thing to an upset came at 145 pounds when Granada's Angel Beltran held off Windsor's Beau Colombini 1-0, scoring a second-round escape.